adminEnock Chishiri Crime Watch
IT is sad to note that cases of rape continue to rise in our province for both adults and juveniles regardless of awareness campaigns being carried out on a daily basis. Surely I don’t think that any rape can be justified. For the benefit of those who are not sure as to what rape is, under the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, Chapter 9:23, on Section 65 it is simply defined as a charge of a male person who knowingly has sexual intercourse or anal sexual intercourse with a female person and, at the time of the intercourse:
(a) the female person has not consented to it; and
(b) he knows that she has not consented to it or realises that there is a real risk or possibility that she may not have consented to it;
I was trying to figure out just one justification for rape, but have failed and still wonder why perpetrators of rape continue to traumatise their victims some as young as two years old. What can we do as a community to reduce such cases in our beloved province and country at large?
The following are some of the ways that can be implemented to avoid falling victims to rape:
Children should be taught to move in groups to and from school, herding cattle or goats, fetching water from local boreholes.
Children should be taught that every adult is a potential abuser hence should report suspicious touching of private parts by trusted adults.
Avoid isolated foot paths and dark alleys when coming or going to school.
Leave your kids in the custody of people you trust, bearing in mind that anyone is a potential abuser.
Children should be taught not to accept gifts from strangers as they may be lured to places where they are eventually abused.
When faced with abuse, attract as much attention as possible e.g. screaming and scratching the abuser, a passer-by may hear and rescue the potential victim.
Children should be taught not to have secrets with adults e.g. maids, gardeners or even trusted relatives. These children could be abused right under their parents’ nose.
Where parents separate, the best interest of the child should be put first in deciding the parent to get custody of children. In many instances, fathers want to remain with their daughters when they divorce the mothers and then start abusing the daughters sexually. This may also apply to mothers who go with their daughters to re-marry and the step-father then rapes the step-daughter.
Bad cultural practices to be discouraged e.g. Kuripisa ngozi with a girl child. This subjects the victim to sexual abuse because the girl does not have to choose a man from the family but every man who wishes is free to have sexual intercourse with her and she should agree. This results in a lot of physical and psychological abuse, HIV and subsequently death is resultant.
Parents/guardians to monitor where children play and small children should be checked at least every half an hour to ensure they are playing safe.
Parents should have separate bedrooms with children so that children do not see the sexual activities of the parents. Children tend to imitate what parents do and they do that with other children thereby giving rise to abuse.
Children should be taught about abuse by parents or guardians, meaning they should feel free to talk to their parents about anything. (Police are already doing that in awareness campaigns.)
Children who commute must board commuter omnibuses with many people and avoid boarding private vehicles.
To those who believe in faith healers/prophets to be accompanied by their spouses or relatives.
When you are looking for employment in unfamiliar areas, advise your local police station of the developments.
Avoid sharing of same room amongst children of opposite sex/parents sharing one room with their kids.
Desist from over trusting male relatives to such an extent as to leave girl children with them.
In the event of an attack avoid fleeing in different directions or towards bushy or isolated areas. (Rapists usually isolate victims before attacking.)
Let’s join hands in the fight against rape in our communities for the betterment of our future generation by practising the above tips and encouraging rape victims to report cases early. We need to play a fatherly or motherly role to all those in our custody and not take advantage of their situations.
Inserted by ZRP Manicaland Province Press and Public Relations.
Online Reporter